Keel laid for final ASW Shallow Water Craft at Cochin shipyard

In a significant milestone for Indian naval shipbuilding, the keel of the eighth and final Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) Yard Number BY 530 was laid at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. The ceremony was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A), along with senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL.

This keel laying marks a major step forward in the ongoing ASW SWC project, highlighting the steady progress of all eight vessels under construction. The ships boast over 80 per cent indigenous content, exemplifying the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reinforcing the Make in India initiative through active collaboration with Indian industries and MSMEs.

The Ministry of Defence awarded the contract to build eight ASW SWCs to CSL on April 30, 2019. Known as the ‘Mahe’ class, these shallow draft vessels are designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying roles. They are equipped with state-of-the-art underwater sensors and systems developed indigenously to meet the specific operational requirements of the Indian Navy in littoral and coastal waters.

Deliveries of the Mahe-class vessels are scheduled between August 2025 and June 2028, and the induction of this class is expected to significantly bolster the Navy’s ASW capabilities in strategic coastal zones.

This final keel laying represents not only the culmination of a complex shipbuilding program but also reaffirms India’s growing expertise in defence manufacturing and the nation’s pursuit of strategic maritime self-reliance.